Board approves salary increase, new positions

The Pflugerville ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved a 2.5 percent salary increase for all staff during its regular meeting last night. The starting pay for teachers was increased from $45,000 to $46,000, and all existing teachers will receive a $1,250 step increase.

PfISD Board President Vernagene Mott said the Board understands that attracting and retaining a quality staff requires a competitive compensation plan.

“Our action sends a strong message that we value our hard working, world-class teachers and support staff,” said Mott. “As a district, we have increased our competitive position with our salary and benefits over the past several years.”

The Board also approved 30.5 new campus positions to keep pace with the district’s ongoing growth, which includes almost 500 new students each school year. An additional eight non-campus support positions were also approved. The new positions add just over $2 million to the 2017-18 proposed budget.

PfISD will open two new schools – Weiss High School and Vernagene Mott Elementary School – this fall, along with a new campus for Timmerman Elementary School, which is currently housed in the district’s oldest building from the late 1950s.

Earlier this month, the Board heard a presentation from the Texas Association of School Boards, which conducted a market study of the district’s compensation for all positions. Based on the results of the study, along with administration recommendations, the board approved giving employees on a step schedule a raise based on 2.5 percent of the market median pay for their position. Employees not on a step schedule will receive a 2.5 percent increase based on their position’s midpoint salary. The cost of the salary increase is $4.6 million.

“By adding these positions and keeping our salaries competitive, we are keeping our promise to the PfISD community – to provide a quality education with a commitment to excellence,” said Mott.